Homegrown: John Moody

By Laura-Clare Thevenet

“Over the years, he has become a quintessential part of the music education community in Spartanburg.”

John teaches AP Music Theory and Music Tech at Spartanburg High School, his students include Tristan Willcox, composer of Battle at Byrjun.

John frequently plays jazz piano across the upstate area.

Dr. John Moody is a composer, teacher, and musician residing in Spartanburg, SC. Moody completed both his undergraduate and masters degree at the University of South Carolina and received his Doctorate in Music Composition from Boston University. Over the years, he has become a quintessential part of the music education community in Spartanburg. While actively playing jazz piano throughout the upstate, he also teaches AP Music Theory and Music Tech at Spartanburg High School and directs the Second Presbyterian Chancel Choir. 

He frequently composes various works that are performed in the upstate. In 2015, his piece Drip won Treefalls’ “Calls for Scores” competition and was featured in the Philharmonic’s Espresso no.2 “French Roast” concert. 

Moody’s new piece Cork will premiere at the Homegrown concert. Cork is intended to be a direct response to Drip, the first being an ode to an evening drink, and the latter an ode to a morning beverage. Cork starts as a bottle of wine opens and creativity flows freely. A soft, tranquil melody begins to fill the space. As time goes on, different melodies slur into each other, but never quite finish or come together cohesively. The original melody returns slightly out of sync at the end and quietly fades off into a peaceful slumber.